Mr. Speaker, before I begin my remarks, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.

I would also like to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on being elected by the members of the House yesterday. We have conferred upon you great responsibilities as Speaker, and though I have known you only a brief time, I am confident you will serve this Parliament well.

Today is a momentous day for this country and an unforgettable day for all of us in the chamber. I am personally honoured to rise in the House as a newly elected member of Parliament. I would like to thank my family for their love and support: my wife, Lori, and our children Annelies, Ben and Sam. I ran for office in no small part because I want them to have the opportunities Canada provided me and then some. I also want to thank my volunteers. Without them, none of this would have been possible.

We all went through a vibrant election campaign just a few weeks ago. Canadians were given the chance to look at the options the candidates for office put before them and make their choice by casting their ballot. It is democracy at its best.

The result of this election is such that every one of us here has been given the honour of serving our constituents. I know that we take this privilege to heart. I congratulate all of my MP colleagues.

As this parliamentary session begins, I am committed to working collaboratively with everyone on behalf of the people who sent us here.

I am deeply honoured that the people of Calgary Confederation have put their trust in me to be their representative in Parliament. As a proud Albertan and a proud Canadian, I stand here today in the chamber in genuine awe of the responsibilities that have been bestowed upon me, and all of us, at this important moment. This is a great nation, a nation of ten provinces and three territories, all working hand in hand with first nations, Inuit and Métis people, with whom we share our history.

We are a nation of regions from coast to coast, but we are one nation. It is especially important, at this moment in our history, that we remember this. No matter where we come from in this wonderful country called Canada, we are called upon to work together as a united people. That is at the core of our government's agenda to build a better and stronger Canada. It is also at the core of the Speech from the Throne. Let us review some of the highlights.

We are at a critical point in our nation's history with regard to our place in the world and the system of global trade. We are facing a turning point that we cannot shy away from. The trading system is changing, and we must understand that the relationship with our trading partners is evolving. It is a turning point that requires us all to accept what needs to be done and work together to accomplish it. In the throne speech, our government faces that reality.

Canadians understand that, since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous or unstable, but amidst this instability, there is an incredible opportunity. Our government intends to lead a confident Canada into the largest transformation of our economy since the Second World War. We will stay true to our values and build new alliances to strengthen our economy. As the throne speech reminds us all, “Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away” from us.

As Canadians, we all know of the long-standing relationship our country has with the United States. It dates back many generations. We have friends there. We have family there. I am no exception. It is a relationship of two good neighbours built on mutual respect and a desire to strengthen each other's economies and national security.

This year has brought a fresh perspective to that relationship, one which has awoken the patriotism of Canadians and sharpened our resolve to maintain our national identity. The Prime Minister has been clear about his own resolve. He has visited the President of the United States in Washington, D.C., and as the throne speech notes, he and the President have begun to define “a new economic and security relationship” between our countries. That relationship will remain “rooted in mutual respect” and founded on our common, yet sovereign, interests. As we move forward, we will work towards delivering transformational benefits to both countries. As we do this, our government is determined not to avert our attention away from the rest of the work ahead.

Canada has much of what the world wants and needs, so our government will be strengthening Canada's relationship with reliable trading partners throughout the world. We will work towards building a coalition of nations that believes in co-operation and is ready to engage in the free exchange of goods, services and ideas. Canada can lead the way, and this will become even more apparent when we chair the G7 summit in my home province of Alberta next month.

I would now like to turn my attention to something closer to home. Throughout the country, many Canadians are having difficulty paying their bills. The cost of living has become unaffordable for many people. They are struggling to keep up and to get ahead of the daily pressures.

Our government will act to help Canadians get ahead. We will be reducing middle-class taxes as part of our economic agenda. This is a priority for us. Canadians can count on it.

The tax cut will put money back into the pockets of Canadian families. It will save the average two-income family up to $840 a year. We will cut the GST for homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers. This will deliver savings of up to $50,000. We will also lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.

As we do this, we will take concrete steps to double the rate of homebuilding in this country, using technology, skilled work and lumber that comes from Canada itself. We will take action to ensure the housing market works better, including cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing.

The plan is clear. The government will drive the housing supply up to bring housing costs down. The bottom line is that our government knows Canadians need relief, and we are supplying it.

We will ensure the future sustainability of programs that have already saved families thousands of dollars a year. This includes child care and pharmacare. It also encompasses the recent expansion of the Canadian dental care plan, which is now available to another 8 million Canadians, saving the average family more than $800 per visit.

Our government has a fundamental goal with regard to the Canadian economy: It is our core mission to build the strongest economy in the G7. As we move towards that goal, it is imperative to recognize that we must create one Canadian economy out of 13 economies. For far too long, we have been held up by internal barriers to trade and labour mobility, and these barriers cost us as much as $200 billion per year. The throne speech made it clear that our government will introduce legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by Canada Day.

We are moving quickly because the time for action is now. We cannot delay. The premiers of several provinces and territories have already taken steps to remove barriers. Our government is committed to working with all the others to continue moving in this direction.

As we move this way, it is important that we, as Canadians, recognize that this is a time to not only build but also build big. We must now build major projects to further secure our national economy and create high-paying jobs that will last for generations. To assist in this, our government will create a new major federal projects office, through which the time needed to approve projects will be shortened from five years to two years, a goal that would make us among the best, if not the best, in the OECD. This will be done while upholding Canada's environmental standards and its constitutional obligation to indigenous peoples.

Removing these obstacles will put Canada in a better position to withstand any trade war we might experience. The change will create jobs and make us stronger. As the throne speech says, it will enable us to become a superpower in both green and conventional energy. This is a message Canadians from all regions should hear. It is certainly music to Albertans' ears.

The government recognizes that Canadians have legitimate concerns about the safety of their neighbourhoods and streets. We will introduce legislation to enhance security at our borders. We will introduce new tools for our law enforcement intelligence agencies to stop the flow of fentanyl. The criminal code will be toughened to make bail harder to get for repeat offenders convicted of crimes such as car theft, home invasion and human trafficking. The Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to crack down on the stolen car trade to prevent the transport of illegal products.

To further protect our communities, the government will hire 1,000 more RCMP personnel. We will take action to stem gun violence through changes to firearm licensing and through the use of scanners, drones and helicopters to stem the flow of drugs and guns across the border.

Earlier, I spoke of how we live in a world of uncertainty and instability. Our government has the responsibility to protect Canada's sovereignty, and we will do that. The government will rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Forces. We will work with our European allies to strengthen transatlantic security, and we will invest in the Canadian north as part of our commitment to keep the country safe from existing and emerging threats.

As an Albertan and the son of a Quebecker, I am proud to live in a country where the French language and the Quebec culture are embodied in our very national identity. The throne speech makes our government's values clear and respects the country's official and aboriginal languages. Moreover, it is a commitment to protecting the institutions that are a showcase for those cultures, like CBC or Radio-Canada.

Our government is also deeply committed to upholding fundamental obligations to advancing reconciliation with indigenous peoples. We must and we will assist in the creation of sustainable prosperity for them. As part of that, we will increase funding for the indigenous loan guarantees program to help more indigenous communities own major projects.

Also central to our identity is the pristine beauty of our land. Canadians are rightly proud of their natural habitat. Our government will protect this distinct feature of Canada by creating new national parks and marine protected areas.

For many decades, Canadians have taken great pride in our immigration system. It has helped paint the portrait of the Canadian mosaic while also fuelling the engine of the economy. Maintaining public trust in the system is integral for the system itself to be sound. Our government will take steps to build trust and restore balance. We will place a limit on the number of temporary foreign workers and international students while taking steps to attract the best talent in the world to come here and join us in building our economy.

Let me end with some remarks about the government's commitment to responsible fiscal management. Our government brings a new approach to this matter. The throne speech notes that the government's operating budget has been growing by 9% every year. That must change. It will change. Our government will bring in measures to reduce the growth of that budget to below 2%. Moreover, we will set a responsible target for deficit reduction. The government will balance its operating budget over the next three years through responsible and prudent fiscal management.

Transfers to provinces, territories and Canadians themselves will be maintained. These are the actions of a new government determined to set concrete objectives to build Canada into a stronger and more prosperous nation for its people. Today's throne speech provides a road map for how we will get there. It is an ambitious agenda. It is an agenda that Canadians, working together, can achieve.

I move, seconded by the hon. member for Thérèse-De Blainville, that the following address be presented to His Majesty the King:

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY:

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN:

We, Your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the House of Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

Corey Hogan

Transcript

Speech from the Throne

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